Western Horseman

[NoSuchPerson]

@paulosey

I don’t think issues of “faith” belong in a horse magazine.

Magazine publishing is a business. The goal of the business is to create a product that will appeal to a large enough audience to make a profit. “Issues of faith” absolutely do belong in a horse magazine if the target audience is people of faith who are also horse people and that target audience buys enough of the magazine to make it profitable.

If the “old” Western Horseman had been making a raging profit, do you think they would have changed it? Of course not. The publishers clearly identified a niche audience that they believed would make the magazine more profitable. What would you like them to do? Just ride the sinking ship into bankruptcy because “issues of faith don’t belong in a horse magazine?”

There are at least a dozen other horse magazines out there. If you’re not interested in reading Western Horseman with its “issues of faith,” then give your business to other magazines.

[Aces_N_Eights]

@xeroxchick

. I really like the new cover style, very retro but classic, and really like that they featured a Latino rope trick guy on a recent cover.

Tomas is a great guy and talented, very much deserving of a cover and story.

[Aces_N_Eights]

@Bluey

It really doesn’t belong in public life either, no matter what religion someone wants to observe.
Fine, showing your religious beliefs in private and with like minded folks, not when mixing with others, makes others uneasy, that especially coming from religions that are becoming so extremists in their beliefs and pushing themselves thru laws and mandates into public life, something that is not supposed to happen in the US.

What happens when one substitutes “sexual orientation” or “political party affiliation” in place of the word “religion” in the above paragraph? Does it hold true?

[roseymare]

@NoSuchPerson

If the “old” Western Horseman had been making a raging profit, do you think they would have changed it?

Maybe.
How do we know that they are gaining readers since the change or even maintaining readership. They definitely have lost at least those of us on this thread.

[Willesdon]

@Aces_N_Eights

@Bluey

It really doesn’t belong in public life either, no matter what religion someone wants to observe.
Fine, showing your religious beliefs in private and with like minded folks, not when mixing with others, makes others uneasy, that especially coming from religions that are becoming so extremists in their beliefs and pushing themselves thru laws and mandates into public life, something that is not supposed to happen in the US.

What happens when one substitutes “sexual orientation” or “political party affiliation” in place of the word “religion” in the above paragraph? Does it hold true?

Yes!! I don’t want other peoples’ “sexual orientation” pushed into wider public life. IMO, what happens in the privacy of their bedroom is their business, no one elses. Also, “political party” becomes totally toxic in public life when the common good is lost in political posturing and adherence to party rather than local needs. Many, many things are in better shape when party politics stays home. “Civil society” in so many ways.

[NoSuchPerson]

@roseymare

Maybe.
How do we know that they are gaining readers since the change or even maintaining readership. They definitely have lost at least those of us on this thread.

Well, if they haven’t gained enough readers to increase profits, they would be out of business, wouldn’t they?

Bottom line, the change wasn’t an accident. It was a conscious management decision, no doubt based on considerable study of their readers/potential readers. If you don’t like it, they don’t care - you are no longer their target audience.

[roseymare]

I don’t agree. It takes quite a bit of time for companies with their standing to fold.

The change back to the vintage cover tells me that they are trying to recoup their core.
The cover change is post the religious change.

[NoSuchPerson]

From the magazine’s web site:

The magazine has continued to grow and evolve through the years. The Western Horseman became simply Western Horseman in later years. Logo type, layout and design also have changed whenever the staff felt there was a reason for it, and circulation has expanded to nearly 200,000 subscribers and newsstand buyers.

I don’t really understand why some of you are so outraged. If you like the magazine, read it. If you don’t, then read something else.

[candyappy]

@Bluey

It really doesn’t belong in public life either, no matter what religion someone wants to observe.
Fine, showing your religious beliefs in private and with like minded folks, not when mixing with others, makes others uneasy, that especially coming from religions that are becoming so extremists in their beliefs and pushing themselves thru laws and mandates into public life, something that is not supposed to happen in the US.

I can’t speak for other religions or what they do but NEVER has Christianity been something hidden and reserved for private life and just like minded folks?

Christianity started with the birth of Jesus ( BC) and after his death, burial and resurrection Christianity was all about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it always has been. The gift of God ( salvation through Christ) is for the whole world.

Why you feel the people of the US are exempt from the Good News is sad and shocking.

People of faith abound in horse ownership, showing and any horse related activity and have a right to include that in an article written about them. As with anything you can read it or skip over it.

ETA: Have you never heard of Cowboy Church? That is a common happening at many Western weekend shows.

[spotnnotfarm]

They have 100% met the interests of their readers. Have you been to a western event? I’m not talking about a quarter horse show, but a true western event, such as cutting, cow, horse, or a rodeo? There is a prayer every morning before these events start. They also include cowboy church on Sundays. These events are heavy Christian based a good amount of the top riders give their thanks to Jesus after every good ride because you don’t fit the demographic anymore does not mean that the magazine is not meeting the demographic in which they are seeking.

[Bluey]

@spotnnotfarm

They have 100% met the interests of their readers. Have you been to a western event? I’m not talking about a quarter horse show, but a true western event, such as cutting, cow, horse, or a rodeo? There is a prayer every morning before these events start. They also include cowboy church on Sundays. These events are heavy Christian based a good amount of the top riders give their thanks to Jesus after every good ride because you don’t fit the demographic anymore does not mean that the magazine is not meeting the demographic in which they are seeking.

If I wanted prayer and sermons I would go to a church, not a sporting event?

Would those in those western events be happy to have a native Indian, hindu, rabbi and a moslem preacher also sharing the stage?

When some wanted to add a Ten Commandments to the public square, which is illegal, they were doing in defiance of that regulation, it was asked if the monument would also include prayers from other faiths, a moslem one too.
The answer was, “over my dead body!”

Would you be happy to have rodeos all be part of KKK rallies?

Seems that pushing for one religion or political party or any other such is just fomenting more divisiveness and excluding others that would want to participate.

[jvanrens]

@spotnnotfarm

I’m not talking about a quarter horse show, but a true western event, such as cutting, cow, horse, or a rodeo? There is a prayer every morning before these events start. They also include cowboy church on Sundays.

Welp, I guess you haven’t been to the same “true western events” that I have. Never heard a prayer at any of them, though i might have heard the Lord’s name taken in vain a time or ten.

[Aces_N_Eights]

@Willesdon

Yes!! I don’t want other peoples’ “sexual orientation” pushed into wider public life. IMO, what happens in the privacy of their bedroom is their business, no one elses. Also, “political party” becomes totally toxic in public life when the common good is lost in political posturing and adherence to party rather than local needs. Many, many things are in better shape when party politics stays home. “Civil society” in so many ways.

Yet those on here offended by religion in a western based horse magazine because it doesn’t align with their opinions have no problem with commenting on politics or other topics in the current events section of a horse BB.

[spotnnotfarm]

I go from the East Coast to Texas and everyone has them🤷🏼‍♀️

[Bluey]

@Aces_N_Eights

Yet those on here offended by religion in a western based horse magazine because it doesn’t align with their opinions have no problem with commenting on politics or other topics in the current events section of a horse

Not offended, just think public sporting events and it’s commentators and magazines not specifically directed to any one segment of that public, not sponsored by a religious group, should be for all comers and not preachy to one segment of the faithful only.

Others obviously disagree and that is fine too.

[jvanrens]

@spotnnotfarm

I go from the East Coast to Texas and everyone has them🤷🏼‍♀️

I guess you’ve never been to cuttings in Eastern Ontario?

[Aces_N_Eights]

@Bluey

Not offended, just think public sporting events and it’s commentators and magazines not specifically directed to any one segment of that public, not sponsored by a religious group, should be for all comers and not preachy to one segment of the faithful only.

Others obviously disagree and that is fine too.

I have no problem with disagreement. There’s plenty said on this BB alone I disagree with. But rather than complaining about it or ranting to the admin or owners of the BB, I scroll on by or do not visit those threads.
Same with a magazine, if I disagree with the content, I’m not going to buy it. Ill buy a magazine that is more in line with my thinking. You are free to do the same with any company you give your money to.

If you don’t want religion at a rodeo or horse show, don’t support those shows that have prayer or cowboy church on Sunday mornings. Even if you go to the shows that do so, they do not force you to participate.

[paint_hunter]

I remember reading Western Horseman years and years ago in my youth. Liked the articles. I have a complimentary subscription now through our professional association. In the past, I liked reading the monthly column on “What’s it Worth” (vintage/old tack) but haven’t seen it in years. I may take a glance at an article about a saddle or other tack maker, but otherwise, it heads for the recycle bin PDQ. I also don’t care for the “Christian-focus”, but if that is their target audience, so be it. I would not be a subscriber sans my freebie subscription.

[Aces_N_Eights]

@Bluey

If I wanted prayer and sermons I would go to a church, not a sporting event?

Would those in those western events be happy to have a native Indian, hindu, rabbi and a moslem preacher also sharing the stage?

When some wanted to add a Ten Commandments to the public square, which is illegal, they were doing in defiance of that regulation, it was asked if the monument would also include prayers from other faiths, a moslem one too.
The answer was, “over my dead body!”

Would you be happy to have rodeos all be part of KKK rallies?

Seems that pushing for one religion or political party or any other such is just fomenting more divisiveness and excluding others that would want to participate.

Could you imagine the caos if cowboy events were held in conjunction with pow wows and a Mexican charro was featured in a cowboy lifestyle magazine this month along with other ethnicities regulary celebrated because of their influence on rodeo and cowboy culture whether it be through performance, art or traditional gear making? (Sarcasm)
The fact you decided to bring up the KKK to try to prove your point is disheartening.

[Bluey]

@Aces_N_Eights

Could you imagine the caos if cowboy events were held in conjunction with pow wows and a Mexican charro was featured in a cowboy lifestyle magazine this month along with other ethnicities regulary celebrated because of their influence on rodeo and cowboy culture whether it be through performance, art or traditional gear making? (Sarcasm)
The fact you decided to bring up the KKK to try to prove your point is disheartening.

Maybe it takes to have lived under a theocratic dictatorship to understand what a religion ruling a society and how it needs to be enforced to rule, brutally against anyone not compliant, any religion, to understand the caution not to let religion become pervasive, as it seems to be happening in western sports.